Nurses Industrial action threat over new unopened Ballyshannon Community Hospital

The impasse over the opening of a new multi million euro 80-bed community hospital in Ballyshannon, on the grounds of the old Sheil Hospital could see the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) consider industrial action in pursuance of an agreement on safe staffing and clinical governance for the hospital.

It is is currently the subject of an ongoing dispute between staff and the HSE, according to the INMO. 

The union has stated that adequate provisions and planning have not been made around staffing and clinical governance, and that this poses a risk to staff and patients. 

Talks were being held last Friday January 19 between the HSE and the INMO in the Workplace Relations Commission, but broke down as the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

The INMO has described the outcome as “deeply disappointing” and is insisting that staffing and clinical governance measures must be in place before the opening of the hospital can be supported.

INMO Industrial Relations Officer for the region, Neal Donohue said:

“Patient and worker safety must be paramount for any decision to open the hospital, and the failure to adequately plan for this won’t be accepted by the nurses going into this hospital. 

“It is deeply disappointing that this much-needed new facility remains unused while the HSE continues to drag its heels over these issues.

“Nurses want to ensure their patients are safe, and not exposed to the risk of compromised care due to unsafe staffing levels, and they want to ensure these issues are resolved from the outset instead of waiting until staff and patients are already in danger.  

“INMO members are now considering industrial action in pursuance of an agreement on safe staffing and clinical governance for the hospital.”

The HSE have been contacted by donegallive.ie for a response.